First place on the line for Chico State women's basketball team

Chico State's Analise Riezebos and the rest of the women's basketball team have a big weekend slate of games at the Wildcats' Acker Gym, starting with today's 5:30 p.m. game against Cal State San Bernardino. Saturday's game is at 5:30 as well and pits Chico State against UC San Diego, which beat the Wildcats earlier in the season. The Wildcats lead UC San Diego by one game in the conference standings. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

CHICO — The fact that the Chico State women's basketball team will be playing its next four games in the friendly confines of Acker Gym is exciting enough.

After all, the Wildcats are more than ready for a little home cooking after having played eight of their past 10 contests on the road. But this weekend carries an extra bit of excitement, highlighted by a battle for first place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.

The 'Cats will take on Cal State San Bernardino on Friday, with UC San Diego rolling into Chico Saturday. Both games are set to start at 5:30 p.m.

Chico State, ranked No. 11 in the latest USA Today Sports Top 25 Coaches' Poll, enters the weekend 18-2 on the season and holding on to a one-game lead over UC San Diego in the CCAA standings with a 14-2 conference record. The Wildcats have won five straight and eight of its past nine contests, including road victories last weekend over San Francisco State (54-53) and Sonoma State (66-48). Playing at Acker Gym, Chico State is 8-1 on the season.

The 'Cats will be facing a pair of teams on very positive rolls. Cal State San Bernardino has won two in a row and three of its last four outings, while UC San Diego has reeled off seven consecutive victories and won 10 of the last 11 to jump back into the conference championship race.

Chico State is prepared for this weekend's twin challenge, as the Wildcats continue to boast one of the top offensive units in the CCAA. The 'Cats top the conference in scoring, averaging 68.6 points a game, are the No. 1 team in field-goal percentage (41.9 percent) and assists (15.2 a game), and second among CCAA teams in 3-point percentage (32.6 percent).

Defensively, the Wildcats rank fifth in the conference, allowing an average of 58.6 points a contest, and are second in steals (12.1 a game).

Individually, Chico State features three of the CCAA's top-20 scorers. Jazmine Miller is ninth in the conference, averaging 12.6 points a game while ranking fourth in 3-point field goal percentage (42.2 percent), tied for fifth in 3-pointers (38), sixth in free-throw percentage (77.2 percent) and seventh in steals (1.7 a game).

McKenzie Dalthorp enters the weekend No. 17 in the CCAA in scoring (10.2 points a game) and is the third-best foul shooter in the conference, converting 82.8 percent of her free throws. Monnie Davidson-Mays in 19th in the CCAA in scoring (9.8 points a game) while ranking fourth in steals (2.2 a game) and seventh in field-goal percentage (48.0 percent).

As she has for most of the season, Courtney Hamilton leads all CCAA players in assists, averaging 4.9 dishes a game. She also ranks third in the conference in steals (2.2 per game) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.8). Analise Riezebos remains one of the top rebounders in the CCAA, ranking 10th with an average of 6.9 boards a night.

Cal State San Bernardino is 9-11 on the season, but thanks to its current hot streak, the Coyotes are tied for seventh in the CCAA (7-9) and in contention for a spot in next month's conference tournament. San Bernardino is coming off home victories last weekend over Cal Poly Pomona (65-57) and Humboldt State (63-50).

The Coyotes are averaging 56.6 points a game on offense, but are fourth in the CCAA in defense, surrendering 55.9 points a game. San Bernardino has struggled on the road this season — the Coyotes are 3-9 away from their home floor, Coussoulis Arena.

San Bernardino is led by Eliza Dy — the senior guard averages 11.5 points a game and ranks eighth in the CCAA in steals at 1.7 a game. Junior guard/forward Trinidee Trice contributes 9.6 points and 4.7 rebounds, and freshman guard Alexica Mack averages 8.0 points and a team-leading 2.45 assists per game.

Chico State downed San Bernardino 62-56 in the season's first meeting Jan. 12 at Coussoulis Arena. Despite 22 points and 12 rebounds by Trinidee Trice, the Wildcats won thanks in large part to 16 points from Courtney Hamilton and a double-double by Jazmine Miller (12 points, 11 rebounds).

Chico State holds a 22-11 edge in the all-time series with the Coyotes.

UC San Diego, which comes to Chico after its Friday matchup in Turlock against Cal State Stanislaus, is 7-7 in road games heading into the weekend. The Tritons won a pair at home last weekend, topping Humboldt State 78-66 and then in overtime nipped Cal Poly Pomona 66-64.

Like Chico State, UC San Diego possesses a potent offense. The Tritons are third in the CCAA in scoring (65.8 points a game) and arguably the top shooting team in the conference, leading in 3-point field goal percentage (34.3 percent) and free-throw percentage (76.9 percent), and are No. 2 in field-goal percentage (41.8 percent). Defensively, UC San Diego is sixth in the CCAA, giving up 59.0 points a game.

Senior guard Daisy Feder is putting together an MVP-like season for the Tritons, averaging 19.0 points a game (second in the CCAA) while draining a conference-high 61 3-pointers. Feder also averages 6.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists a game.

Senior guard Emily Osga is the CCAA's top shooter, averaging 52.1 percent from the field and 45.5 percent from behind the 3-point arc. Osga is seventh in the conference in scoring (13.0 points a game) and third in 3-point field goals (40). The Tritons' other standout player is junior forward Erin Dautremont, who averages 11.1 points and 6.0 rebounds a game while shooting 47.8 percent from the field.

In the first meeting of the season between the two teams, UC San Diego knocked Chico State from the ranks of the unbeaten Jan. 11 at RIMAC Arena, holding the Wildcats to 25 points in the second period and rallying from a seven-point halftime deficit for a 71-65 victory. Though Daisy Feder was 5-of-20 shooting, she led all scorers with 19 points.

The Tritons have won the past seven matchups with the 'Cats. The last Chico State victory over UC San Diego was a 77-67 win Feb. 13, 2010 at Acker Gym and lead the all-time series 19-11.

Both games will be broadcast on 1290 AM KPAY and on the internet via the Wildcat Athletics website, with Mike Wessels handling the play-by-play. Live Stats will also be available online.